Binding of Death

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The Binding of Death also known as the Death Binding is a dark reflection of the Binding of Order created by Nagash. Instead of mortal heroes, these Soulbound are grim bands of terrible undead and servants of Nagash who have been lashed together for eternity to bring suffering to the world of the living. [1a]

Origin

In the Age of Myth, Nagash was still a member of the Pantheon of Order when Sigmar called for the creation of the Soulbound order. Together the gods created the arcane ritual that joined the souls. Nagash believed that the Ritual of Binding is wasted on the living and thus studied the contributions of the other gods specially Teclis who was unpararalleled in arcane artistry. From them Nagash learnt to combine disparate souls into an unbreakable whole which would eventually be used in the creation of Ossiarch Bonereapers. [1a]

During the Age of Chaos Nagash turned against the Pantheon of Order and Sigmar retreated to Azyrheim resulting in the Soulbound order falling into obscurity. Nagash cared little for the Soulbound and instead turned his attention to other projects such as the bringing about the event that would be known as the Necroquake. Centuries later Arkhan the Black, Mortarch of Sacrament who had been given the duty of locating and collecting grave-sand for Nagash's great plan came to the Great Necromancer revealing how a small group of Soulbound ended up setting in motion a string of events that delayed the great work by years. [1a]

Nagash realised that Sigmar has restored the Soulbound order and sent them into Nagash’s domain to interfere with his plans as a grave insult and a statement that Sigmar intended to use every tool in his divine arsenal against Nagash. Thus Nagash and Arkhan began to forge the first Binding of Death in a dark sanctum. This was intentionally made as a twsited reflection of Sigmar’s Soulbound, a grim parade of accursed spirits and Wights led by a Bonereaper specifically forged for leadership. This group was ordered seek out and slaughter the Soulbound that interfere with his plans and were successful in their task, bringing the bleached skulls of Sigmar’s Soulbound. Nagash saw that their differences and unpredictability made them stronger even though this lack of control made him concerned. Regardless Nagash considered them a new tool that opened new avenues.[1a]

Ritual

The Binding ritual is a multifaceted spell with the magic from all the original members of the Pantheon of Order. While Nagash attempted to remove various aspects specially the life magic of Allarielle these bindings resulted in spontaneous conflagrations. Thus Nagash buried the life magic under raw necromantic energies to twist it into a form of ‘vigor mortis’ while still allowing the ritual to be carried out. As a result a number of side effects can be observed such as Wights gaining an unnatural vigour that makes them move with renewed purpose. While still driven under a specific undying duty they can now think outside of this narrow goal and with a reduced risk of entering a catatonic state when they lose their purpose. Nighthaunts feel the emotions and sensations of their fellow party members which bleed through the binding and may gain an echo of sensations. While these are still fleeting moments, for the Nighthaunt each is a glorious moment of freedom from unending torture allowing them to have a purpose other than enacting vengeance upon the living. Ghouls of the Flesh-eater Courts will find that the wards that shield the mind from corruption and madness partially lifting their arcane delusions. These Ghouls will notice the veil tearing at the edges to reveal the truth of their cannibalistic existence in moments of lucidity. Thus these Ghouls must choose to accept the monstrous reality, sink back into the much more comforting delusion or continue to skirt the line between. The Soulblight Vampires find their bloody hunger lessened to the point a vampire that once needed to drink blood daily can go on for days without feeling blood starvation thus also reducing the risk of turning into a ravenous monster other vampires face when deprived of blood. [1a]

Sources